Reading, Pa. (Feb. 2, 2022) - Alvernia University (13-5, 7-4) outscored Eastern University (14-4, 9-2) 17-10 in the final seven minutes of action to take a 74-64 win over the Eagles on Wednesday night in MAC Commonwealth men's basketball at Alvernia's Jack McCloskey Court. 

Leading the Eagles by just three points, 57-54, with 7:34 to play in regulation, Alvernia's Avery Walker hit a driving layup to spark Alvernia's 17-10 run over the final seven minutes of action as Alvernia secured the crucial MAC Commonwealth win over the Eagles, 74-64.

Alvernia now sits in solo third in MAC Commonwealth standings with a 7-4 record in conference play. The Golden Wolves sit behind current #2 Eastern (9-2 in MAC Commonwealth play) and #1 Hood at 10-1 with five MAC Commonwealth games remaining. 

The Eagles opened the night's scoring with two converted free throws just under a minute into play. Alvernia quickly responded with an early three-pointer from Malik Green on Alvernia's ensuing possession to give the Golden Wolves the 3-2 advantage. 

After the Eagles and Golden Wolves traded layups, the Eagles rattled off six points in 90 seconds to jump out to a 10-5 lead with 16:05 in the first half.

Mickeel Allen knocked down a layup to stop the quick run by the Eagles and bring Alvernia back within three, 10-7, with 15:45 to play in the first half. But, Eastern quickly pushed its lead back to two possessions following a free throw and a layup.

A three-pointer from Walker with 14:35 on the clock got Alvernia back within one possession, 13-10. Alvernia hung within one possession for the next nearly five minutes.

Leading Alvernia by just three, 15-12, a 3-pointer from Eastern's Jairus Carroll with 10:21 on the first half clock sparked another quick run by the Eagles that saw their lead jump to nine points, 23-14, with 9:17 to play in the first.

Alvernia Head Coach Mike Miller called a 30 second timeout, switched his floor, and started to chip away at Eastern's nine point advantage.

While Alvernia was held without a field goal for several minutes, the Golden Wolves made four free throws to get back within five, 23-18, with 7:53 to play.

Just over 50 seconds later, Malik Green ended Alvernia's field goal drought with a fastbreak layup to put Alvernia within three, 23-20, with 7:01 left in the first half.

Both teams went scoreless for the next minute and a half until a Rece Harman jumper put Alvernia within one, 23-22, with 5:22 on the first half clock.

On Alvernia's next possession, Green scored a put-back jumper to put Alvernia in front, 24-23.

The Golden Wolves and Eagles traded the lead over the next three minutes until Walker knocked down two free throw attempts to put Alvernia ahead 29-28. 

Jakob Kelly then hit a jumper to put Alvernia up 32-28 with 1:19 to go in the first half, and 40 seconds later he knocked down another to extend Alvernia's lead to 34-28.

Eastern's Draig Cooley hit a three with 15 seconds to play in the half, but Alvernia would score the final points of the half off a buzzer-beating layup from Keon Taylor to make it a 36-31 game in favor of Alvernia going into the break. Alvernia outscored the Eagles 22-8 in the final nine minutes of the half after Eastern held a 23-14 advantage with 9:17 left in the first half. 

A Taylor layup off an Allen steal opened the second half scoring and saw Alvernia extend its lead to seven, 38-31. 

Eastern quickly got to work on an 11-0 run over the next three and half minutes to jump back in front of the Golden Wolves, 42-38.

Coach Miller again called a timeout as the Golden Wolves regrouped. Taylor came out of the timeout and hit a layup to end Eastern's run and put Alvernia back within two, 42-40, with 16:26 on the clock.

A layup from Green followed by a layup from Allen on Alvernia's next two possessions put the Golden Wolves back in front, 44-42.

A jumper from Eastern's Colley locked it back up at 44-44 at the 15:17 mark, but then scoring went cold for both teams for the next three minutes.

A layup from Green off a Taylor steal at the 13:09 broke the drought and put Alvernia back in front, 46-44. The Golden Wolves did not relinquish the lead the rest of the way.

A 3-pointer by Eastern's Kaeshawn Ward with 7:34 to play put the Eagles back within three, 57-54. While Alvernia outscored Eastern 17-10 in the final seven minutes, Eastern stayed within striking distance much of the way.

Leading Eastern by five, 65-60, Allen knocked down a jumper with 1:27 left to play to put Alvernia up 67-60. Two made free throws by Taylor following a steal by the senior guard put Alvernia ahead by nine, 69-60. 

Alvernia continued to make its free throws in the final minute. Then, with Green facing a one-and-one opportunity with 17 seconds left, Green missed his first attempt. Eastern rebounded the ball but there was confusion on the court as the Eagles handed Green back the ball assuming he was shooting two. Green took advantage of the confusion and tossed up a layup to extend Alvernia's lead to ten, 72-62.

Eastern quickly drove down the quart and converted a layup. But, Green then converted a time-expiring layup of his own to secure the ten point win for Alvernia, 74-64.

Kelly led Alvernia for the second game in a row with a 17 point, 13 rebound double-double. He also added four blocks and two assists. Taylor and Green each finished with 15 points. Allen rounded out Alvernia's double-digit scorers with 12 points. He also added eight boards.

The third place Golden Wolves look to keep the momentum going on the road at Albright on Saturday.